Week 17 NFL Betting Preview

The Washington Redskins have covered the posted spread at the sportsbooks in each of their last five games against the rival Dallas Cowboys.

If they can do it again on Sunday Night Football this week they'll clinch the NFC East division title.

Washington is listed as a 3-point favorite at home against Dallas at 5Diimes for Sunday night, and they hold a one-game lead on the Cowboys heading into the final week of the NFL's regular-season schedule.

Dallas, though, owns the tiebreaker, which means the Redskins (9-6 SU, 10-5 ATS) need to beat the Cowboys (8-7 SU, 6-9 ATS) on Sunday to win the NFC East title and earn a home playoff date the following weekend.

Over the last five meetings between the Redskins and Cowboys dating back to 2010 Washington is just 2-3 SU but 5-0 ATS, including a 38-31 road victory as a 3.5-point underdog on the NFL betting lines at 5Dimes back in Week 12 of the season.

The OVER has paid out for totals bettors in three of the last four Redskins/Cowboys games.

The Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks have already clinched playoff berths in the NFC, while the Minnesota Vikings hold down the No. 6 seed in the conference heading into a home game against the Packers this weekend.

Minnesota can clinch a playoff berth by beating Green Bay on Sunday, but the oddsmakers at 5Dimes have them pegged as 3-point underdogs for the game.

The Packers beat the Vikings 23-14 at home as a 7-point favorite on the NFL odds in Week 13, and they're 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in the past five games between the teams.

Chicago and the Giants still have a shot at making the playoffs in the NFC as well, although both teams are currently below the postseason cutoff line. The Bears are 3-point road favorites against the Lions at 5Dimes for their matchup on Sunday afternoon, with the Giants opening as big 10.5-point home favorites against the Eagles.

Philadelphia beat New York 19-17 as a 1.5-point favorite at home back in Week 4; Eagles QB Nick Foles broke his hand over the weekend, so Michael Vick will start.

Over in the AFC all the playoff teams have already been decided, with the Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, and Cincinnati Bengals all locked into postseason berths heading into the weekend.

The Texans, Broncos, Patriots, and Ravens are the four division winners, with each of Houston, Denver, and New England able to claim the top seed and home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs if things go their way in Week 17. The Texans are on the road in Indianapolis this weekend, with that game OFF the board in the early going.

The Patriots are 11.5-point favorites at 5Dimes for their home game against the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, with the Broncos at -17 at home against the Chiefs.

The Ravens could end up as the No. 3 seed if they beat the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday while the Patriots lose to the Dolphins.

Cincinnati is a 2.5-point favorite on the NFL betting lines at 5Dimes against the Ravens; Baltimore throttled Cincinnati 44-13 back in Week 1 of the season, easily covering the 7-point spread at the sportsbooks.